In the camp of the Sam Division in Trabzon, Theodoro on the tower was watching the movement of the camp opposite, and laughed, "Can't hold your breath?" Unwilling to defend a plain with meadows and rivers, you will eventually have to flow to the mountains of Paphragonia, where it is easy to get in and out. Then the old general gave the order, "The whole army shall build a pontoon bridge the next day, cross the Harris River, and then join up with the emperor's horses, pursue Gawain's army, and destroy them in the mountains." ”

In the rugged Paphragonia mountains, there are broken bricks, pillars and statues of ancient canals, and wild beasts, although it was barren and barren a hundred years ago, there were still a number of market towns, but when the Turkmen and Seljuks swept away on horseback, most of the military towns and cities were ruthlessly looted and destroyed, and the rest were also fortified and became the stronghold of the Turkic Gazi warriors. Leave their hoofprints.

The bulky baggage was all discarded, and all the people traveled lightly, so it was very important to be able to find supplies in time, but fortunately, with the guidance of the followers of Kabeamia, they could effectively find the few plants and water sources that could support the march of the various detachments.

At the valley passes, several detachments were able to join together after exiting, and then, after walking through a relatively flat wilderness, they were forced to divide their march between the ravines that had been swooped again. In many cases, Gawain could only see flags waving behind the hillside on that side, and fluttering trumpets sounding to communicate with each other.

However, the Harris River served as a natural left flank barrier for the march of the Dalian army, isolating most of the Danishmond Turks from raiding. As a result, the roads were rough and difficult, but the Turkic soldiers did not attack them on a large scale - only scattered scout cavalry, observing them from the hillside, quickly dissipated their tracks.

The next day, the last three companies of the Harris Riverside camp were guided by their guides. Commanded by Merlot and Birel, they also marched into the region of Paphragonia, and marched urgently after about fifty curts behind Gawain's great army, which was fifty curaxies, but not even ten in a straight line.

"Speed up and reach the Gangara Citadel as soon as possible, the Turkic light cavalry has already detected it, and the Emir of Danishmund, in the city of Amasya, will soon learn of our whereabouts." Gawain looked at the winding mountain path below, and the advancing soldiers. Constantly urging, Anna, who was sitting in her small shoulder, saw through the curtain that the heretical consul had ridden a few feet away from Gawain, "which means that she is no longer wary and hostile to the great barbarian." ”

"But this also means that maybe when the big barbarian persuaded her, something like this kind of 'what' really happened between the two of them, and it hasn't happened between me and the big barbarian. Isn't it time for wrestling and horseback riding, although I have given carte blanche before," Anna's mood suddenly became bad. This feeling was the first time she had sprung up.

"Damn!" In Anna's mouth, this term came out unconsciously, which surprised Agnes next to her and Starurachos who was standing outside, and then the fat eunuch had eyesight, and soon it became clear what Anna meant.

When the shoulder is parallel to the Gawain Guard. After crossing a mist-shrouded mountain, Anna pouted and tugged at the tie in front of her clothes, when suddenly a figure approached on horseback through the curtain. Anna thought that she was a big barbarian, and suddenly there was a feeling of joy and peace of mind in her heart, so she immediately lifted the curtain, but what was imprinted in her eyes was the face of the female archon, and Anna seemed to feel that the other party's cheeks were much richer and richer than before, "Is there something wrong?" Anna was disappointed and resentful, but the basic etiquette was maintained.

The consuless's tone was also gentle, she pointed into the distance, and said, "Your Highness the princess, on your west side, is the castle of Castamonu, where your ancestors rose. ”

So her shoulders were lowered, and Anna walked excitedly to the edge of the cliff, and under the steep slope below, was the end of the rolling and rushing Karasu River, which was constantly bifurcating and merging, cutting out a raised dark gray gravel river, and far opposite, Kastamonu, as the female consul spoke, was an Armenian-style fortress, with the slopes of the hill, a band-like wall made of stones, filled with earth to build barracks, and climbed the stairs, and the towers on the peak were located on the peak of more than 2,000 feet, like a sword out of the sheath, Towering under the sky with great momentum.

"My ancestor, Manuel. Erotix. Komnenos, the brave frontier warrior, rose from this castle," muttered to herself, clasping her hands to her chest, looking at the beautiful, yet deserted, abandoned castle.

"Your Royal Highness, your ancestors were originally from the Erotix family, and after launching a military rebellion against Emperor Vasily the Younger (Vasily II) in Asia Minor, your ancestors rode horses with bows and arrows in hand and thwarted the rebels, thus gaining the favor of the Emperor, and also obtained this castle and a vast fiefdom, and since then began to become independent and sensational in the world under the name of 'Komnenia'. I don't know if I'm wrong, Anna? At this time, Gawain came and said that he was already familiar with this Komnenos story.

"When, of course, there is no mistake of the great barbarians, my ancestors, my grandfather, and my father, are all the leaders of noble Roman warrior families. How I wish I could follow in their legacy, even if I was only a daughter. ”

At this time, Gawain and Kabeamia all knelt down on one knee in front of Anna and said in unison, "Please don't worry about Your Highness Princess, even if the place where you rise is not in Castamonu, but in the land of the Seven Ridges of the Apocalypse, we will bow down to your crown with all our hearts, and build your high throne with iron and fire, so that your merits are not inferior to the Komnenos ancestors of Castamonu." ”

This stirred up Anna's pride, and she turned back, and behind the towering castle was her voice, "Very well, the Paulicians have been guarding the borders of Bulgaria and Thrace for the Empire, and when they are done, I promise to continue to recognize your rights; And the company of the great barbarians will enjoy the land and taxes allocated by the new state—what are your plans in the situation where the Roman army is in pursuit, the Danishmond Turks may cross the Harris at any time, and there may be a siege of Konya thieves in front of them? ”

And Kabeamiya immediately flashed her blazing eyes, and her golden hand covered with a black cloak stretched out, pointing three fingers to the ground, "Your Highness, please allow me to speak boldly, and use it to break the siege of our army by strong enemies on all sides." (To be continued.) )